Volume 4, Issue 1 Spring 2016

In this issue:

1

OKLAHOMA WATER RESOURCES BOARDDAM SAfETy QUARTERLy

J.D. Strong, Executive DirectorOklahoma Water Resources Board

Julie Cunningham, ChiefPlanning & Management Division

Yohanes Sugeng, P.E., ManagerDam Safety Program

The Oklahoma Dam Safety Act recognizes that properly constructed, operated, and maintained dams used to impound water and create reservoirs for public and private beneficial uses constitute vital parts of the State of Oklahoma’s water resources, and authorizes the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to regulate the

construction, operation, and maintenance of dams to protect lives and property. Please e-mail comments and article ideas to pubinfo@owrb.ok.gov.

NEWSLET TER OF THE OKLAHOMA DAM SAFET Y PROGRAM

Permit Requirements for Dam Construction or ModificationWater Rights Seminar for the Oklahoma Real Estate CommissionBurrowing Animal Removal Assistance through the Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator ProgramLow Hazard Dam InspectionsUpcoming Events

Permit Requirements for Dam Construction or Modification Prior to submitting an Application to Modify or Construct a Dam to the OWRB, dam owners and professional engineers should verify permit requirements from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), local floodplain officials, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ).

USACE Section 404 PermitAny nonexempt activity that involves discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. requires

the dam owner to obtain a Section 404 permit from the USACE. In order to ensure that the proposed construction or modification requires a section 404 permit or to verify the project’s exemption, please contact the USACE Tulsa office at (918)669-7366.

Floodplain PermitA permit is required prior to the construction or modification of any dam across or along designated floodplain

areas or areas known to be flood-prone because such activity may affect the base flood elevation, drainage patterns, or flood-carrying capacity of the waterways. For more information about floodplain permit requirements or to determine if a particular dam is located within the floodplain, please contact your local floodplain official.

NRCS Agriculture-Exempt DamA dam built and used for agricultural

purposes may be exempt from state regulation if certain criteria are met. OAC 785:25-1-2 defines an agriculture-exempt dam as “a low hazard potential dam which is less than 25 feet in height, has a normal storage capacity of less than 100 acre-feet of water that will be used primarily for agriculture purposes... and was or will be designed or constructed with the assistance of a local conservation district or federal agriculture related agency [§82:110.5].” Though these dams are exempt from Oklahoma Dam Safety Act regulations, owners must still notify the OWRB of new construction and file a notice of completion in accordance with OAC 785:25-7-6. For more information, contact your local NRSC office.

ODEQ General Permit OKR10 for Stormwater Discharge from Construction Activities

The OKR10 permit is required by the ODEQ for any construction

activity that disturbs at least one acre of land and potentially releases pollutants from stormwater runoff into waters of the state of Oklahoma. Land disturbances less than one acre that are part of a larger development or sale that totals at least one acre also require the OKR10 permit. For more information, refer to OKR10 permits.pdf or contact ODEQ Stormwater Permitting at (405)702-8100.

Water Rights Seminar for the Oklahoma Real Estate CommissionThis spring, the Planning and Management Division of the OWRB, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission, will hold two all-day water rights seminars for Oklahoma’s licensed realtors. The goal of these seminars is to introduce water issues involved in real estate and present a broad view of the OWRB’s jurisdiction and regulations. Presentations will be offered by Dam Safety, Floodplain Management, Technical Studies, Well Drillers, and Permitting staff. These free seminars, open to licensed realtors, will be held in Oklahoma City on April 20 and in Tulsa on May 10. Seminars are underwritten by the Oklahoma Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund. To reserve a seat, licensed realtors must enroll through the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission.

Water Rights Seminar for the Oklahoma Real

Estate Commission April 20, 2016

Francis Tuttle Technology Center 12777 North Rockwell Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73142

May 10, 2016Owasso Conference Center

Sycamore Room10800 North 140 East Avenue

Owasso, OK 74055

NEWSLET TER OF THE OKLAHOMA DAM SAFET Y PROGRAM

OKLAHOMA WATER RESOURCES BOARD • DAM SAFETY QUARTERLY • VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 1 • Spring 2016

J.D. Strong, Executive DirectorOklahoma Water Resources Board

Julie Cunningham, ChiefPlanning & Management Division

Yohanes Sugeng, P.E., ManagerDam Safety Program

The Oklahoma Dam Safety Act recognizes that properly constructed, operated, and maintained dams used to impound water and create reservoirs for public and private beneficial uses constitute vital parts of the State of Oklahoma’s water resources, and authorizes the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to regulate the construction, operation, and maintenance of dams to protect lives and property.

Please e-mail comments and article ideas to pubinfo@owrb.ok.gov.

Upcoming EventsApril 20April 26-28May 10May 10May 25-27June 7-9June 14June 28-30

OWRB Seminar: Water Rights Seminar for the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission, Oklahoma City, OKASDSO Seminar: Seepage Through Earthen Dams, Atlanta, GAOWRB Seminar: Water Rights Seminar for the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission, Tulsa, OKASDSO Webinar: Strength Selection for Static Slope Stability AnalysisASDSO Seminar: Inspection and Assessment of Dams, Omaha, NEASDSO Seminar: Inspection and Assessment of Dams, Jackson, MSASDSO Webinar: Cracking and Hydraulic Fracturing in Embankment Dams and LeveesASDSO Seminar: Stability Analysis of Embankment Dams, Austin, TX

Burrowing Animal Removal Assistance through the Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator ProgramBurrowing animals like beavers, muskrats, and groundhogs, are naturally attracted to the habitats created by dams and reservoirs. These animals can endanger the structural integrity and proper performance of embankments and spillways. The burrows and tunnels of these animals generally weaken earthen embankments and serve as pathways for seepage from the reservoir. This kind of damage has resulted in dam failure; therefore, controlling animal burrows is essential to dam preservation.

Methods of repairing rodent damage depend upon the nature of the damage, but in any case, elimination of the rodent population is the required first step. Because rodent elimination can be costly and labor-intensive, the OWRB recommends contacting the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) for assistance with burrowing animals.

The ODWC is mandated to manage, protect, and perpetuate Oklahoma’s wildlife. The ODWC issues permits to landowners, lessees, or their designated agents to control nuisance or damage by regulated species of wildlife. The Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) program was developed to provide assistance to the public who encounter such problems. NWCO operators are permitted to provide assistance for these problems and regulated by the ODWC, but they are independent entities and generally charge a fee or solicit a donation for their services. Visit the NWCO web page for a comprehensive list of operators or for more information about the program.

Low Hazard Dam Inspections The OWRB is working to complete inspection reports and breach maps for the 24 low hazard dams inspected at the end of 2015. Registration will reopen in the fall of 2016.

The OWRB Dam Safety program offers free inspections for low hazard-potential dams in an effort to raise public awareness about proper maintenance and to encourage communication between our agency and private dam owners. This offer includes an on-site inspection, full inspection report, and a breach inundation map. Please visit owrb.ok.gov/damsafety or contact our dam safety staff for more information.

Cross section of a dam showing how animal burrows may compromise the structural integrity of the embankment.

From top to bottom: a beaver, muskrat, and groundhog. Burrows from these and other animals can endanger the structural integrity and proper performance of embankments and spillways.